While writing this routinely on an envelope this week, I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me that this is what we must do when the enemy sends us messages to discourage us. It is easy to receive this spiritual strategy when you are in a season of jubilee and celebration, but if you are really going through it, it takes a greater humility to act on this.
Most all Christians are familiar with James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
I remember hearing this passage years ago, but for a long time, had no idea exactly how to do this. When I hear the Word of God, I want to know how it can benefit in my life in Christ practically. I actually recently took an in-depth personality test administered by my sister Marnie who is a Certified Myers Briggs Practitioner. The test revealed that how I take in information was dead center on practical (pragmatic/results-oriented) vs. conceptual (scholarly, idea-oriented). This is probably the reason I tend to ask a lot of questions!
When we submit ourselves to God, our heart cries out from the very depths for our tremendous need for Him. Deep guttural groans are prayers, too! This is part of humility when we empty ourselves and let God fill us up with His love, His righteousness, and His order.
I love to raise up the Word as the sword of the Spirit and speak scriptures out loud in prophetic victory. I do declarations often and these words help to frame my thoughts and my day. After faithfully doing this, though, I still felt uneasy. I thought...hmmm? What could I possibly be missing? The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, Isaiah 40:31. I looked it up:
"but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Oh...yes! Holy Spirit put the finger on the problem and the solution at the same time by the Spirit of Knowledge. I love to run with the Word but He gently reminds me that it is His strength and power that keeps me, not my own. I simply wait for the manifestation of His Word to come to pass. I praise Jehovah Sabaoth, The Lord of Hosts...the God of the Angel Armies who works on my behalf to rescue me from my afflictions as He heeds my cry. I know His word is true and my heart can be instilled with confidence by the truth found in Psalm 138:2:
"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth; for thy hast magnified thy word above thy name."
When we submit to God, we fear the Lord above the idols we made in our hearts (this takes great humility...you cannot do this in your own strength and must ask God for more grace!). We acknowledge that God is the one true Living God. Worry cannot save us. Fear cannot save us. Our own strength cannot save us. Our triumphant achievements cannot save us. Jesus is the one who saves, delivers, heals, restores, and prospers. It is only by His unfailing love, His unfailing righteousness, and His unfailing strength. He is Faithful and True! Remember it is His New Covenant and He is our Mediator!! PRAISE GOD!
Once we acknowledge these truths, we can be armed to resist the devil. Let him know that you have changed addresses. Our house is owned by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The joy of the LORD is our strength! The devil always starts with a thought...It could be a thought of doubt, a thought of condemnation or accusation, a thought of fear or worry, a thought of feeling unloved, a thought based in the spirit of performance or comparison to others...whatever the thought is RESIST!!
Remember these thoughts, if allowed to grow, develop into strongholds that will carry you into captivity! We are told in 2 Corinthians 10:5:
"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,"
Desire to seek His face afresh and let the simplicity of the Gospel renew a right spirit within you. Ask God to let His Word be the sledgehammer that annihilates any man-made thought structures that war against the truth and power of the Gospel and your growth in Him. Ask God to uproot any doctrinal error that you have embraced that is keeping you from life more abundantly. You will be surprised at the volumes of vain imaginations and worldly wisdom we daily entertain that impedes our growth in Jesus Christ!
The devil operates through veils of deception and seeks whom he may devour. Start re-routing His messages. You are not in relationship with the devil; you belong to Jesus Christ! Start praising God! Jesus is LORD and the devil is a defeated foe. Let the redeemed of the LORD SAY SO! Worship God knowing that HE is the Author and Perfecter of your faith.
When you resist the devil, don't forget to wait on the Lord to renew your strength. Just as you place a letter in the mailbox to return to sender, you must wait on the postal service to pick it up. Once you have obeyed God's voice, rest in the full assurance that He is your loving Heavenly Father and is faithful to perform His word in your life. Enjoy your current residence!
Psalm 84:10, "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness."
